2017-11-06 Down in the dumps – The English We Speak

Summary

Feifei has arrived looking a mess and a little bit smelly! Where has she been? Neil tells her she has a wasted trip because she’s taken a piece of authentic English too literally. Listen to the programme to find out where she’s been and why.

Transcript

Neil
Hello, I’m Neil… but where is Feifei?

Feifei
… sorry I’m late! Is it time for The English We Speak?

Neil
It is Feifei – but catch your breath and have a seat. Are you ok? You look a bit of a… mess!

Feifei
Me? A mess! You would be a mess if you had been where I have been.

Neil
OK calm down… and what’s that smell?

Feifei
So you think I smell now! I’ve been to the rubbish dump!

Neil
The rubbish dump?! Why did you go there?

Feifei
Because I was looking for Rob earlier and someone said he was down in the dumps.

Neil
Feifei, that is the last place you will find someone who is down in the dumps. It’s just a saying that describes someone who is unhappy, fed up and sometimes feels there is no hope.

Feifei
Oh I get it! Being depressed or unhappy is a miserable feeling – a bit like being at a rubbish dump, actually.

Neil
Exactly. Let’s hear some examples… 

Examples
Don’t be so down in the dumps, you’re going on holiday tomorrow!

Oh it’s Monday again, no wonder I feel so down in the dumps.

Reshma has been so down in the dumps since her boyfriend left her.

Feifei
So that’s being ‘down in the dumps’ – feeling unhappy and miserable. So I’ve had a wasted trip – but I wonder why Rob is ‘down in the dumps’? 

Neil
It could be because his football team lost… again.

Feifei
No, he’s used to that happening. It must be something more serious than that. 

Neil
I know – he’s feeling sad because he’s not presenting this wonderful programme with you – it’s such a great script isn’t it!

Feifei
There’s only one place for this script Neil – down in the dump!

Neil
Ha ha, very funny!

Both
Bye.